This past Wednesday saw the First Round of the 101st Edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. 16 amateur teams were scheduled to square off — but only 7 matches took place — for the right to move on in one of the world’s longest running soccer competitions.
MORE: Vlad Baciu’s brace for RWB Adria earns him TheCup.us Player of the Round
Red Force (USASA) 2:1 Colorado Rovers (USSSA)
Miami-based Red Force got stuck with the unenviable task of having to travel all the way to Highlands Ranch, Colo. midweek for their Open Cup game against the USSSA’s Colorado Rovers. However, Red Force rose to the challenge of traveling as well as having to play at altitude and stunned a Rovers side led by former MLS players Colin Clark and Ritchie Kotschau.
After Clark put the Rovers up in the 30th minute, Red Force fought off a number of challenges by managed to equalize on a Daniel Gomez penalty kick in the second half. David Olguin would send the Red Force to their first Open Cup win in team history with a long-range strike in the 81st minute. With the win, Red Force becomes the first USASA club from Florida to win a tournament game in 13 years. The win also earns Red Force another long road trip this week for their second round as they travel to Texas to take on the PDL’s Laredo Heat. FULL MATCH REPORT [+]
| #USOC2014 LINKS2014 US Open Cup results 2014 US Open Cup bracket 2014 US Open Cup goalscoring leaders The First Cup series (1913/14) Round 3 draw scenariosTwitter | Facebook | Flickr | Reddit |
L.A. Misioneros (USL PDL) 1(2):1(3) PSA Elite (USASA)
The even play of the scoreless first half of the game went away in the 61st minute when PSA defender Noah Gaines was sent off for his second yellow. PSA was forced to adjust their play and managed to hold off L.A.’s attack. The game would remain scoreless through regulation but in the first period of extra time, the Misioneros’ finally broke the deadlock with a goal by Javier Castro. Reeling after the goal and with only 15 minutes of play left, PSA regrouped and pushed their offense forward. After PSA’s Jose Ferciado was taken down in the box, he converted the PK to level the score. The game went on to PKs and again, Ferciado scored the decisive winner to send PSA Elite to the second round. PSA Elite will now travel to San Diego to face the San Diego Flash. FULL MATCH REPORT [+]
CD Aguiluchos (NPSL) 1:2 Ventura County Fusion (USL PDL)
Ventura County scored two second half goals to erase a 1-goal deficit against the NPSL’s CD Aguiluchos USA. The win earned the Fusion a place in history as they became the first PDL side to earn an Open Cup victory in four consecutive years. The team has also made five consecutive appearances in the tourney, one shy of the current record for amateur teams. The Fusion now go on to face USL Pro’s Sacramento Republic FC at the Republic’s training site, Cosumnes River College Stadium. FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO [+]
RWB Adria (USASA) 2(3):2(1) Detroit City FC (NPSL)
One of the NPSL’s best hopes to advance in the tourney fell in their opening match. In a contentious game before the opening round’s biggest crowd in Livonia, Mich., Adria would strike first and take a 1-0 lead into halftime. DCFC’s undisciplined play plagued them throughout the match with numerous offside calls but they would take control with goals in the 70th and 77th minutes by Zach Myers and Kevin Taylor, respectively. Unfortunately for Le Rouge, RWB’s Vlad Bacia would break through a scrum in second half stoppage time to get his second goal of the night and the equalizer. Things fell apart in the extra periods. DCFC lost a man due to injury, then RWB lost a man on a bad challenge in the 109th, and dual red cards brought both teams down to nine players. With the game still tied, it went on to penalty kicks, where Adria would prevail. RWB will now return back to Michigan next week to take on the Michigan Bucks in their indoor stadium in Pontiac, Mich. on Wednesday. FULL MATCH REPORT [+]
Western Mass Pioneers (USL PDL) 4:1 GPS Massachusetts (USASA)
Western Mass came out flat and paid for it when GPS Massachusetts’ (formerly Mass Premier Soccer) Santiago Bedoya, the brother of US National Team regular Alejandro Bedoya, scored in the 7th minute. The rest of the half wasn’t much better as the Pioneers played on their heels and generated few offensive chances, but in the second, the Pioneers came alive in front of their home fans. Western Mass dominated play, scoring four unanswered goals, all in the last 20 minutes of play, to win convincingly over GPS in the round’s only decisive result. The Pioneers now have to travel to face USL Pro’s Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium. FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO [+]
Vermont Voltage (PDL) 1:2 New York Red Bulls U23s (NPSL)
In the match at the Red Bull Training Center, the Red Bulls would make two first half goals stand up to earn their first Open Cup win in team history. Scott Thomsen (18th min.) and Kendan Anderson (35th min.) had New York’s goals. In the second half, Vermont, was forced to play a more aggressive game in order to generate offense and get back in the game. The Voltage would net one in the 68th as New York’s keeper got a hand on a blast by Adrian Saldana, but couldn’t keep the ball out of the net. Despite the heavy attack, New York’s defense held Vermont off and the Red Bulls would take a 2-1 win. The Red Bulls, or ‘Baby Bulls’ as some fans refer to them, will head to Pittsburgh next to face the USL Pro’s Riverhounds in Round 2. FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO [+]
FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic (NPSL) 1:0 (AET) GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)
Lehigh Valley had to make the 7-hour bus ride up to Portland, Maine to face GPS in their first round matchup, but made it worth their while with a 1-0 victory. The Sonic would break the deadlock with a goal from Shastri Spencer at 115’ of the second extra time period. GPS put up one last offensive flurry in the final minutes but the Sonic keeper held them off for LV to get the victory. Lehigh Valley now moves on to host USL Pro’s Harrisburg City Islanders in the second round. FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO [+]
SC Corinthians USA (US Club Soccer) vs. San Diego Flash (NPSL)
San Diego Flash (NPSL) advance to the second round due to SC Corinthians forfeiting due to not having enough players registered on time. The Flash will now host PSA Elite in the 2nd round. READ MORE ABOUT THE FORFEIT HERE [+]
SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE
May 14, unless noted otherwise
Arizona United SC (USL Pro) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)
Providence Park; Portland, Ore. – May 13, 10 p.m. ET
Jacksonville United FC (NPSL) at Orlando City U23s (PDL)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla. – 4:30 p.m. ET
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) at Schwaben AC (USASA)
Schwaben Athletic Club; Buffalo Grove, Ill. – 5 p.m. ET
Icon FC (USASA) at Baltimore Bohemians (PDL)
UMBC Stadium; Baltimore, Md. – 7 p.m .ET
NY Red Bulls U-23s (NPSL) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)
Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pa. – 7 p.m. ET
New York Greek American Atlas (USASA) at Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL)
Carey Stadium; Ocean City, N.J. – 7 p.m. ET
Greater Binghamton FC Thunder (NPSL) at Reading United A.C. (PDL)
Gurski Stadium; Reading, Pa. – 7 p.m. ET
Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) at RVA FC (Richmond Virginia FC) (NPSL)
Sports Backers Stadium; Richmond, Va. – 7 p.m. ET
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro) at FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic (NPSL)
Whitehall H.S. Soccer Stadium; Whitehall, Pa. – 7:05 p.m ET
Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro)
Queens University Sports Complex; Charlotte, N.C. – 7 p.m. ET
RWB Adria (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer Arenas; Pontiac, Mich. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Ocala Stampede (PDL) at Orlando City (USL Pro)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Panama City Beach Pirates (PDL) at Charleston Battery (USL Pro)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Wilmington Hammerheads (USL) at Chattanooga FC (NPSL)
Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Western Mass. Pioneers (PDL) at Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro)
Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y. – 7:35 p.m. ET
Brooklyn Italians SC (NPSL) at Jersey Express (PDL)
NJIT Soccer Stadium; Newark, N.J. – 8 p.m. ET
Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL Pro) at Tulsa Athletics (NPSL)
Tulsa Athletics Stadium; Tulsa, Okla. – 8:30 p.m. ET
Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) at Des Moines Menace (USASA)
Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, Iowa – 8:30 p.m. ET
North Texas Rayados (USASA) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
House Park; Austin, Texas – 8:30 p.m. ET
Orange County Blues (USL Pro) at Fresno Fuego (PDL)
Chukchansi Park; Fresno, Calif. – 9 p.m. ET
Red Force (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex; Laredo, Texas – 9:15 p.m. ET
Sacramento Republic (USL Pro) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College; Ventura, Calif. – 10 p.m. ET
PSA Elite (USASA) at San Diego Flash (NPSL)
Mira Mesa High School; San Diego, Calif. – 10 p.m. ET
Cal FC (USASA) at LA Galaxy II (USL Pro)
StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium; Carson, Calif. – 10:30 p.m. ET